Concrete Angel
Darkest Before Pitch Black

A/N Well hello there. I see you have found Procrastinator3000. And you know what? It's for free! And if you are one of the first 100 people to read this source of sweet idleness, you get to leave a review! Also for free! Now, I should warn you, the first part of this shot is bleak, somber, and really fun to read! So please, do enjoy this chapter in all of it's glowing misery. Minor strong themes, mentions of death...you have been warned. We are not responsible for the sudden need to cry this story produces. This product has a strict policy on the returning of decreasing happiness. So Read On! ;P

Disclaimer- I do not own Percy Jackson and the Olympians.

The bulb on the nearest light pole flickers, intermittent, across the deserted farm road. It burns unsteadily and fitfully, making odd shapes in the eyes of a blond girl.

But, by now, everything would make odd shapes. Her mind resents her over thinking more than ever, and her stomach wonders in exasperation why it hasn't been fed yet. A day is usually all she has to wait for the next meal, and even that time span is rarely allowed by Luke and Thalia.

They've tried to keep Annabeth healthy, even at their own expense. But much as they would want to, they can't keep the little girl from getting thinner, paler, and weaker. It's been five days since they last ate, and none can think coherently anymore.

"I hurt everywhere." She complains.

"I know, Annabeth. Here, if you bend like this it doesn't hurt much."

Luke scoots closer to her and folds Annabeth's knees closer to her chest. Out of all three, Luke is the one who appears strongest. He's lost weight, and he's pale, but his voice still works in a fairly normal way. He's able to move and smile.

He scarcely does.

Thalia comes closely second, but you can see the traces of starvation more pronounced along her features. She's thinner and weaker than Luke, and her eyes are sunken. Rather than body fat, she's lost muscle mass, and it pains Annabeth to see her formerly lithe frame slowly become graceless and creaky.

But both Luke and Thalia cannot overlook the drastic change that has taken over Annabeth, though. She's bony and feeble, and the lack of food has taken its toll in the form of nearly unbearable cramps. She sleeps all day, and they gradually become more and more worried that she'll lose consciousness. Her eyes have become glassy, and her nervous system has nearly succumbed completely to languor.

And even now, as he holds her, Luke knows they won't be able to go much farther. They ran out of the food they stole at his mother's place a few towns ago, and they've been stranded on a farm road in New Jersey.

But he locks eyes with Thalia, and they reach a silent agreement.

"Annabeth?" She speaks her name gently, making sure she listens.

Annabeth turns on her, her eyes wide with despair and insanity. Thalia can see the expression of pain so carefully mixed with her features. "Hmm?"

"Sit up. You're crushing the apple pie!"

The seven year old barely has the strength to frown as Luke agrees by picking her up and setting her on his lap. "Careful, Annabeth. Here, take this plate."

"What plate? What apple pie? I can't see any, and I'm hungry!" She wails.

Luke takes a deep breath. It's the last thing he can do for her. He knows it, and Thalia does, too. Might as well let Annabeth die peacefully, with the belief that her stomach was full, even if it isn't, and the cause of death is, indeed, inanition. It's the last attempt to save the fading light in her wide gray eyes.

Because there is nothing to light her small bones and muscles anymore.

"Well, we thought you were smart. Only smart people can see the food, you know. Look, it's all around here, see? And you can have anything you want."

This hits home. She is smart, and so she makes herself focus. She squints to see the marvelous feast Luke and Thalia talk about. She grabs her invisible plate and serves herself three slices of apple pie. Having the chocolate-covered donuts right next to it, she grabs two. Next, she reaches over for the picnic basket, and pulls out a fork. She sets her plate on the red-and-white checkered cloth, and digs in.

"I'm having apple pie, and donuts, and I'll have a cookie after." She announces, delighted.

"How about a salad?" offers Luke, who savors the delicious absent taste of barbecue.

"Or fruit?" Thalia suggests, showing off the chocolate ice cream she twirls in her hands.

"Not really. Salads and fruit are boring. I'd rather have a huge bowl of ice cream."

Luke strokes her hair, wanting nothing more than to hide the despondence behind the illusory smell of hamburgers. "As you wish."

"Mmm," Thalia mutters, her mouth full. "What flavor? I have chocolate, vanilla, strawberry…"

"Is there any Rocky Road left?" Annabeth asks hopefully. She wouldn't want to miss out on the ice cream!

"Plenty. Here, have it all." She swallows here. "I'm good."

And so the older demigods are unable to fight the moment of truth in the lie, because there isn't any. Just like there isn't any food, and they're just trying to ease Annabeth's pain.

By inflicting it on themselves.

"Pass the milkshakes, Thalia." Luke forces himself to smile, and gives in to that deceiving quenching of his thirst. "I'll have strawberry."

She quickly hands him that tall, red glass of ice, milk, and whipped cream. He hands the vanilla-flavored deception to Annabeth, and they all secretly toast to their misery. He brings the blue-colored straw to his mouth, and takes a sip.

Falsehood tastes nice.

The stars have lost track of time, because they're too busy staring down at the outlined figures on the meadow they shine on.

"I'm so full, I could sleep for hours." Annabeth yawns, mistaking her weakening frame with need for sleep. Yes, she knows many things, but she's much too young to know about death.

And now she'll stay young. She'll go young.

Luke gathers her now weightless body and places her next to him. "Go on. We'll wake you when it's morning." But his voice breaks, and a treacherous tear splashes Annabeth's cheek. She turns and watches him.

"Why are you crying?"

He chuckles, the soft tone makes it impossible to recognize the blackness lurking below. "That hamburger wasn't all that good. In fact, it was awful."

Annabeth sighs, shaking her head slightly. "I told you, you should have eaten the donuts instead. They were so tasty." She mutters dreamily.

Thalia kicks in, seeing Luke is unable to continue. "Well, you can have more tomorrow."

"I'm cold."

And a black leather jacket finds its way around Annabeth's small shoulders, making her sigh contentedly. She curls up against the two favorite—the only—people in her world. She drifts off and away, her brittle life slipping through Luke's unwilling fingers.

"I'm sorry."

The uttered apology hangs in the air long after Annabeth's pulse has decreased considerably, just like her body temperature, despite their attempts to squeeze her in between their pale shoulders. Thalia's teeth chatter, and she lets them, because an icy hand finds its way through hers.

"Does it hurt?"

Thalia shakes her head in determination. "It's freezing."

So, suddenly, the cold hand doesn't intertwine with her fingers, thinking she meant him. She doesn't mean him, or the weather, though.

She means death.

"Close your eyes." He advises. "Sleep helps."

But he knows, and damn it, he knows so well. Sleep is not innocent now. Sleep becomes the ghostly door that'll take them away from him if he lets it. But if it helps her ease the pain, he has no choice. It's his fault, after all.

"I'm so sorry."

She shakes her head again. "It's not your fault, Luke. It's not…" She breathes deeply, fighting those closing eyelids with all her might. "—your fault."

Oh, but it is.

She claims his hand again, ignoring him as he flinches. She knows she's as cold as him now, and just as weak. Annabeth's breath becomes shallow, unstable, and hitched. She looks away. She can't…

"She's so pale…" Thalia whispers, staring at the little face beside her. Her voice is a hungry whisper, bending her expression. She takes comfort on the fact that Annabeth is not feeling much.

Soon, she won't be feeling anything.

They don't need any words, just each other's iciness. Words prove futile when you cannot speak, and tears are shown as barren when you cannot cry.

Slowly, so very slowly, Luke watches as the stars forcefully draw in the light in Thalia's blue eyes, and feed on it, leaving them glassy and lifeless. They smile cruelly upon him. He's giving up forever, tasting this moment.

It tastes worse than the lie.

A sob is heard by nothing but grass, as Luke feels a listless Annabeth beside him, and Thalia's limp hand no longer gripping his own. He releases his own breath, letting it go wherever it pleases. He allows his eyes to be covered by something other than misery, and he drifts off.

And away.

"Three demigods, my lady."

"Oh, dear. Set camp here, then. These children need help, Zoë."

"But, Artemis, one of them is a boy."

"Yes. But no matter for now. I will not let him die in cold blood. We'll care for them."

The short exchange is enough for Luke's awareness to stir. His limbs no longer respond, though, and he finds himself only capable of clutching Thalia tighter, and holding Annabeth closer. His eyes fly open to a world of silver under the stars. Where the moon shines brighter. A wolf howls somewhere close by, and that has him trying to sit bolt upright.

His own weightless mass holds him down, or rather, is unable to hold him up. So the hand that presses harshly against his shoulder is not at all necessary.

"Stay down, half-blood. You are safe."

The voice is female, and it has an old-fashioned accent. Ancient, though the tone is young, and the hand is far too strong to be aged. When he focuses his eyesight, he sees a girl

"Where—?" Luke tries to ask.

"Rest. I will tell my mistress you are awake. Until then, do not try anything foolish." She warns coldly, and leaves the…wherever he is in.

He can barely raise his head, but the images of a dying blond child and a girl cold enough to be a corpse shake him out of starvation momentarily.

"Thalia? Annabeth?"

And then he looks the other way. More girls dressed in silver are solemnly watching his family as they rest silently next to him, covered in warm cloth. Both of their eyes remained closed, but he is soothed by their quiet breathing.

"Do not despair for your friends, Luke Castellan. They sleep soundly, and they are being nursed back to health as we speak."

It's a girl, maybe Thalia's age. She carries bows and arrows, and has long reddish brown hair gathered back. Her face is deadly beautiful, and her eyes are silvery yellow. She stands next to the girl he met earlier. The one named Zoë.

"Who—?"

"Fear not, boy. I've been sent to help you. I am Artemis. Goddess of the Hunt."

The fury boiling at the title nourishes his blood. He's had enough. "Who sent you?"

The girl smiles. She advances toward Annabeth's sleeping figure, and rests a hand on her now bony cheek. "She's warming up nicely. I believe we can start feeding them, Zoë. Cautiously, though. They have been many days without food or drink."

The older girl gestures her companions out of the tent, and they leave their tasks to follow her. "Yes, lady."

The goddess says nothing to Luke, but proceeds to check on Thalia. There is a tenderness in her eyes that sparkles whenever she looks at both girls. And then she gently shakes them both awake.

Thalia is the first to let her blue eyes fly open, and she reaches immediately for her wrist, where she keeps her shield. But she finds it impossible to move quickly with several heavy covers on top of her. With heavy death above her.

"Slowly, Thalia Grace. You are safe."

Annabeth is less impulsive. She gently stirs awake, slowly opening her eyes. Her hair fans across the silver pillow, and she yawns idly. She seems to not notice her surroundings right away. "Are there any cookies left? I'm still hungry."

"Oh, you can have all the cookies you want, Annabeth. But first we must give you something else. You haven't eaten in a long time." The goddess explains patiently.

"But I just ate last night!"

They know it's been only hours since their near death, but Annabeth appears to have lost track of time. It's still night outside, and the moon shines brighter than ever. Luke stares at Artemis, begging her through echoed blue eyes.

Don't tell.

She looks away. "Ah, yes. I'm sorry. Perhaps we can find some of those cookies for you. Won't that be nice?"

Annabeth smiles. "Yes, thank you!" And then she finally seems to notice the stranger. "Who are you?"

"And where are we?" Thalia groans, rather than chimes, in.

"I am Artemis. And we have set a temporary camp here to nurse you back to health."

As this female deity chats away with both girls, Luke watches the rest of silver girls swarm inside. They bring spoons and bottles of golden liquid, balancing them gracefully on small trays.

"I will give you Ambrosia and Nectar. This will cure your injuries. Then, you will be able to feast to your heart's content." Artemis smiles and pours the liquid. "A spoonful will suffice, I think."

He feels all better, and there comes a time when the goddess addresses him, and tells him it is not necessary to steal the food. He can store all he wants for his journey. Little does he know, though, that it may prove useless to save everything in portions of threes.

The girl named Zoë stands in front of them as Luke, Annabeth, and Thalia eat nonstop. She's tall, and very graceful. Her skin is coppery in color, but there is a silver glow around her, as if she were standing in front of the moon itself. She has long, dark hair, and into it is braided a silver circlet. Her voice is so commanding that they are forced to look up.

"I am Zoë Nightshade, Lieutenant of Artemis. The goddess wishes to speak with thee, Thalia Grace. And bring the little one with you."

She turns, as if she knows Thalia will follow without a doubt. The daughter of Zeus frowns, surprisingly irritated at her use of English, and turns to Luke.

"She probably just wants to know where we're going."

The boy, regardless, is too suspicious of this girls to let Thalia just wander off with one of them. Especially if she takes Annabeth with her. He has come close to losing both of them just hours ago, and he feels wary, no doubt. It seems as if tonight the world is beginning again, because he has been given a second chance.

"I don't trust them." He finally says.

"Well, I don't like them much, either, but we should just listen to what she has to say. They saved us, Luke."

Annabeth hears Luke sigh with indecision, as if it hurts that the big girl has asked to come with them. She'd like to go. They've been nice to her.

"Thalia, can we go?"

Electric blue eyes turn on her suddenly, and she pulls her up by the arm. "Yeah. We'll just go a few minutes, okay? We need to continue traveling."

"Okay!" Annabeth bounces up and down, tugging on Thalia's sleeve. But before she can pull her away from a brooding Luke, he grabs her arm.

"Be careful. And yell if you need anything." He warns.

"You can be so melodramatic sometimes." Thalia scoffs. "Why would I need anything?"

With that she walks away, and Luke is glad the color has returned to her cheeks at least.

Why, indeed.

Annabeth stares in wonder at the silver tent they've gone into. Everything glitters faintly, rugs and pillows cover the floor, and a deer rests peacefully at Artemis's feet. She lets her mouth hang open as she grips Thalia's hand, and she blushes when the goddess speaks to her.

"Do you like it, dear?"

Her blond curls swing as she snaps her head back to the smiling girl. Attempting at politeness, she answers, "Very much. It's pretty."

Artemis nods, still smiling. "Thank you. I see you two are close."

Before Thalia is able to answer curtly out of cautiousness, Annabeth chirps in. "Very close! We're best friends! We're almost like sisters."

Annabeth states this as a fact, needing no more reassurance than the fingers wrapping around her little hand. Zoë cracks a small smile next to the goddess, while the words touch Thalia's very soul. She looks away, hoping no one has noticed her eyes go momentarily soft.

"I see," Artemis says, quite satisfied with this girl. "And how would you like to have more sisters, Annabeth?"

But Thalia's ready this time. "What do you mean?"

Zoë speaks up, regarding both girls with uncertainty. "We would have thee and thy friend Annabeth join the Hunt, Thalia Grace."

"Join?"

The mystified faces that are worn by both demigods come to the attention of Artemis. "As you have surely seen, my Huntresses accompany me. They pledge loyalty to me in exchange for immortality."

Thalia looks overwhelmed with shock. "That….that's huge."

"Indeed." Zoë agrees. "But it is completely worth it. We are my lady's sisters-in-arms, her companions. Once we swear allegiance, we become immortal, unless we fall in battle. Though I can assure you, the possibility is minimal."

Thalia grows more and more wary of this girl, while Annabeth turns rain into sunlight. "And we'd be together?"

"Oh, yes. Forever, Annabeth. You would not suffer of anything; cold, hunger, sickness…heartbreak." Artemis grimaces, and further composes herself. She looks at Thalia dead on. "I know you suffer so, my girl. Join us, and you will be free of responsibility. You do not have to become anxious of Annabeth, for she will be well taken care of, I assure you. Your bond will only become tighter, and you will have a bigger family. Us."

Words paint a bright picture in her mind. It's not exactly pink, for she hates the color, but it's light and beautiful. It's the world she dreams of when her nightmares are merciful enough to leave her alone for a night. Where Annabeth is so happy and healthy, and she doesn't have to worry. Where she is happy.

And then it shatters, rips, and the design bleeds out of the edges.

"Imagine that, Thalia." Artemis continues. "You will not have to forget yourself, or Annabeth. Trade your whole life. It is a good choice, I assure you."

"I want to join. Thalia, please, let's do it. It sounds fun."

Luke.

"But—there aren't any boys in this camp. Luke can't join, can he?"

The picture bleeds further in misery. It's imperfect, just like everything else.

"Certainly not!" Zoë huffs, outraged. "Men are not worthy. If you wish to join, you shall be a maiden eternally. Believe me, you are better off, daughter of Zeus."

"Yes indeed." Artemis breaks in, somewhat altered. "You forswear romantic love forever. Never grow up, never get married."

"Who wants to get married? I want a family, Thalia."

Annabeth cannot understand why her friend has suddenly gone still, her eyes narrowed, and colored a murderous blue. She grips her little hand so tight she's hurting her.

What's wrong Thalia?

A wolf howls in the night, followed by a series of whispers. Artemis stands. "I had better go and see what is the matter." Putting a hand on Thalia's shoulder, she spoke gently. "Do think about it, my girl. Promise me."

But Thalia looks away, and the goddess leaves, sorrow in her eyes.

"You cannot seriously consider refusing! It is a stupid choice." Zoë snorts. "Refusing immortality for a boy. That is beyond ridiculous."

There is thunder in Thalia's eyes, and she snaps back, defiant. "Luke is not just a boy! He's cared for us. He's my family, and I can't just leave him!"

"Oh you had better," the Hunter warns. "Before he leaves you. How has he cared for you , exactly? You were on the verge of death, if it crossed your mind. Look at the poor girl. He almost killed her."

"He wouldn't. You don't know anything!"

She let's go of Annabeth's hand, as if unchained, and Annabeth shrinks back in terror.

"Oh, I know so very, very much, Thalia Grace. And you are being stupid."

"Stupid?" She shrieks. "Who do you think you are to call me stupid, you stuck-up princess?"

"You will regret your choice, this I swear to you!" Zoë bites with her equally choleric tone. "He will let you down someday. They all do!"

Words.

"Go. To. Hell."

The fury claims her brain, claws open, and refuses to let go. Without thinking better of it, she hauls Annabeth behind her, and out of the tent. The child fights and throws a tantrum, something so uncharacteristic Thalia is forced to snap out. "No, Thalia! We can't leave! I want a family!"

Thalia crouches down to her level and grips her shoulders. "Listen to me, Annabeth. They want us to leave Luke, okay? He can't be in this family, and if we join, we'll never see him again. Ever."

Terror widens gray eyes.

"Leave Luke? We can't leave Luke. No, let's go away from here."

Thalia smiles, satisfied. "Exactly, kiddo. Luke has never left us, and we would be leaving him. That's not fair, is it? That's called betrayal, Annabeth, and we don't betray our family."

Annabeth nods, comprehending.

"So what did they want?"

The boy in question appears behind them, and Thalia is haunted by remorse. How could she have been so unfair to him? "I have no idea. They're all nuts." She lies, watching Annabeth run to hug him tightly. Remorse haunts her, too.

They're both haunted, while Luke is possessed.

"I guess you're feeling better, Annabeth. I promise, promise never to let you hungry again, okay?"

"Not even a little bit?"

Luke laughs. "No, not even this much." He shows a millimeter with his thumb and index. "We have enough food for the next town. What do you say, Annabeth? Would you like to see New York?"

"'Yes!"

"Then let's go." Thalia smiles. "We need a new adventure."

As Annabeth walks away from the silver camp, under the pretense that everything is gold, she rejoices in her newly learned lesson. She forever burns the bridge to the Hunters, because she doesn't need them. She already has a family, and a great one, too.

And we never, ever betray our family.

And I do assume you were one of those 100 people, because not 60 people read this! ;D You do the math.

Anywho, I hope you did enjoy our service. Stay tuned for our next product. We specialize on Procrastination, don't we?

Anna:)